Forest walk, swing bridge and azure rivers... the Haast Blue Pools walk near Wanaka, New Zealand, is a great short walk on your way to (or from) the West coast. Below is my guide to help you plan your visit with some photos for inspiration.
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Why visit the Haast Blue Pools?
The Haast Blue Pools walk is a short walk at the beginning of the Haast valley which connects Wanaka to the West coast and its glaciers.
It is very easy to stop and complete the track mostly on boardwalks.
Through the forest, you reach 2 swing bridges over the rivers.
The Blue Pools are where the Makorora river and the Blue River meet. Deep pools of azure water fed by glaciers have formed.
There, the water is so clear that you can see the bottom of the riverbed. And you may see brown trouts swimming around.
Haast Blue Pools Walk in video
Below is a short video of the walk and what you could see.
Planning Tips - Haast Blue Pools New Zealand
How to get to the Haast Blue Pools - location
- On South Island, North of Wanaka
- Easy drive, stop along the Haast Pass - Makarora Road (Road 6)
- Wanaka to Blue Pools walk's carpark = 1h drive
- Fox Glacier to Blue Pools carpark = 2h20 drive
- The carpark is clearly indicated.
- Only accessible by car
Haast Blue Pools Walk carpark
The Haast Blue Pools Walk is included in my eBook that help you plan an unforgettable road trip in NZ!
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Completing the walk
- 20min walk one way to the 2nd swing bridge (1.5km return)
- Slightly uphill as you return
- You can keep walking to the Young River Mouth (1.5 to 2h for 7km)
- It is a place that sandflies love, so I recommend wearing long sleeves and trousers
- The Haast pass road does not have any toilets at any of the stops. The last ones from the mountains are in Makaroa, and from the Coast they are at Haast village
Planning to rent a car in New Zealand? Check out the local company Snap Rentals
I selected it myself and paid my rental in full.
- They were very nice and responsive, they pick you up and drop you off at the airport
- The car I rented was in perfect condition
- In addition, they have all-inclusive insurance packages with AAA roadside assistance, which means I didn't have to worry (I think it's worth the price)
Can you swim there?
- I have not seen any signs that it is forbidden. But read all the signs to make sure it has not changed.
- However there was a sign 'Please refrain from fishing'
- I have read articles where people have jumped from the swing bridge. Please be mindful of other tourists and be respectful.
- Note that the water temperature is really cold since it comes from snow / glacier
Where to stay
- To stay nearby, you can find a few options at the small village of Makarora - see options
- Otherwise, there is plenty of accommodations in the Lake town of Wanaka - see the best rated options
Haast Blue Pools Walk - Difficulty
Haast Blue Pools Walk Map
At the beginning of the walk you can see a map with the explanatory board.
You won't get lost, the track is really clear.
Haast Blue Pools track - state
The track is really well maintained : sometimes gravel, but mostly board walk.
You have 2 swing bridges to cross with a few stairs. They feel quite stable.
The most difficult part can be to cross people on those swing bridges if there is a large group traveling at the same time as you.
Below are a few pictures to give you a feel for the walk.
The color of the Blue Pools Wanaka
The source of the Makarora River is high in the mountains of Mount Aspiring National Park.
The water flows down and is cleared through the rocks making it transparent. After the Blue Pools it continues to Lake Wanaka.
Where the Makarora River meets the Blue River, it created a deep pool under the bridge.
And the color...
The pools can be azure blue, which is what they are famous for.
However the color depends on the conditions:
- The blue color is the result of light reflection on the snow icy cold water.
- Cloud coverage and direction of the sun can have an impact on the reflected color
- Weather conditions upstream also have an impact: depending on the rush of water, more or less gravel is transported, changing the color
- If the rivers are in flood, gravel may be transported and stuck in the pool so they may look brown
When I visited they were more emerald than blue.
Walk through the forest
The first part of the walk is through the forest.
This was not my favorite forest walk in New Zealand (I had some wonderful ones at the Cathedral Caves and Lake Gunn for example). But it is still a pleasure to admire nature.
According to the sign, it is an 'open canopied Silver Beech/Tahina forest".
It was not my favorite forest walk in NZ, but I found there one of my favorite trees in NZ. Do you love it too?
Haast Pass Blue Pools in photos
And below are a few more pictures to help you decide if you want to stop for this walk.
From the first bridge
Around the second bridge
Note: On the small 'beach" area, was where the flies were the most present... but it was still worth getting to water level 🙂
Further stops on the Haast Pass Drive
If you keep driving towards the West Coast or come from the West Coast.
There are other stops worth considering along the way, mostly lookout and waterfalls such as Fantail, Roaring Billy and Thunder Creek.
Experiences can vary greatly depending the water levels.
Fantail Falls
Driving Haast Pass Road
Roaring Billy Waterfall
Thunder Creek
You can find all my favorite stops in my eBooks, with GPS coordinates and practical map to help you plan an epic NZ itinerary!
Be overwhelm by the beauty, not the planning!
- 12 easy-to-plan Maps
- 200 scenic locations in NZ
- Tips to plan + make the most of your time
- 285+ large photos to decide where to go
- GPS coordinates direct to the carparks
- 6 easy-to-plan Maps
- 110+ scenic locations in NZ South Island
- Tips to plan + make the most of your time
- 190+ large photos to decide where to go
- GPS coordinates direct to the carparks
Want to see more of NEW ZEALAND?
What color will you see?
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